Means for supporting and lifting a trash container or the like for tilting movement



Dec. 27, 1966 E. SNOW MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND LIFTING A TRASH CONTAINER OR THE LIKE FOR TILTING MOVEMENT Filed June 18, 1965 IN VENTOQ 812a Snow United States Patent Office 3,294,266 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 3,294,266 MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND LIFTING A TRASH CONTAINER OR THE LIKE FOR TILTING MOVEMENT Elza Snow, Steger Road, Steger, Ill. 60475 Filed June 18, 1965, Ser. No. 464,945 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-314) This invention relates to means for supporting and lifting a trash container or the like for tilting movement.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device in which a trash container or the like may be positioned so that it may be lifted and tilted to permit it to be emptied or cleaned.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which can accommodate bulky and heavy trash containers and which serves to lift the container so that it may be tilted to a side or partially inverted position for emptying or cleaning.

This invention has particular application for trash containers which are relatively large and which are cumbersome to handle and which can be filled with a large amount of trash, refuse and the like. In the use of trash containers of this type, the emptying and cleaning of same becomes a problem for they cannot manually be tilted to a sidewise or inverted position, thus, in order to empty such a container the trash or refuse must be lifted out from the container and this is time consuming and laborious. Or, if it is desired to tilt the container several persons must be employed to simultaneously perform this function. This is eliminated with the present invention since the device herein described and claimed can be wheeled or moved into a proper relationship with the container and by a manual manipulation of a lever the container is lifted to elevate it from the ground so that it may be tilted on its side or partially inverted so that the contents from the container is bodily dumped out or discharged in a minimum of time and with minimum effort. This effects a great economy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which includes a framework having an open side or end to permit the container to be moved or wheeled into the framework in proper position for lifting and tilting of the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which may be operated by a single individual.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a'perspective view showing the trash container moved into position to be supported and lifted by this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the trash container in lifted position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view with the trash container in a tilted position.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on lines 44 of FIGURE 5, and

FIGURE 5 is a view of the parts which perform the lifting action. The dotted lines show the position of the parts when in lifting position.

The base or supporting frame of the device which forms this invention is generally indicated by the numeral and comprises a pair of spaced side members 12 connected as by welding to a front transverse bar 14. This forms a framework with sides and a front but open at the rear, as indicated at 15. This framework will permit the trash container, subsequently described, to be wheeled or moved into the framework through the open side. The side members 12 are formed preferably of angle irons and are each shaped to form a horizontal bottom member 16 and a spaced horizontal top member 18 connected by inclined front and rear members 20 and 22.

Connected to each of the side members 12 between the top 18 and bottom 16 is a vertically extending plate 24. Secured to the inside of the plate is a vertically extending tubular member or sleeve 26 which is adapted to receive a lifting post, generally indicated at 28. The lifting post is also a tubular member and is slotted as at 30 at its lower end to engage with the rear end of the operating lever, presently to be described. The upper end of the lifting post 28 has fixed to it a cradle 32 in which the trunnions of the container are supported. The lifting posts 28 are operated to slide vertically upward or downward, dependent upon the operating lever.

The operating lever, generally indicated at 34, is formed of a fiat bar material and is of a generally U-shaped configuration and comprises spaced side members 36 joined by a front cross-member 38. The vertical plate 24 has a forward extension 27 and the side members 36 of the lever 34 are pivotally connected as at to the extension 27 so that the operating lever 34 is fulcrumed at the pivotal connection 40. The inner ends of the side members 36 of the operating lever 34 extend rearwardly of the fulcrum point 40 and the tops thereof are recessed as at 41 and 42, with a curved portion 43 therebetween.

The inner end of the side member 36 of the operating 4 lever 34 is received in the slotted lower end 30 of the lifting post 28, with the lower edge of the lifting post resting or riding on the curved portion 43.

A coil spring 44 is connected as at 46 to the side 36 of the operating lever, with the opposite end of the spring connected as at 47 to the top 18 of the side 12 of the frame. The two coil springs 44 normally maintain the operating lever 34 in the elevated position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In such elevated position the lifting posts 28 are in their lower or retracted position. When the operating lever 34 is pivoted so that its front end is moved downwardly, as in FIG. -2, it will raise or elevate the lifting posts 28. The front cross-member 38 of the operating lever 34 has fixed to it a foot treadle 48 which is engaged by the foot of a person, to operate the operating lever 34. The treadle 48 also extends forwardly of the front crossmember 38 and is adapted to engage the front cross-bar 14 of the base frame to limit the downward pivoting movement of the operating lever 34. The notched end 41 of the sides 36 of the operating lever 34 also engages the lower edge of the tubular lifting post 28 when the inner or rear ends of the sides of the operating lever are elevated to their uppermost position (dotted lines, FIG. 4), such as when the operating lever 34 is depressed, as shown in FIG. 2. The vertical plates 24 are each provided with a stop member 50 which is engaged by the inner ends of the side members 36 of the operating lever 34 to limit the upward pivotal movement of the operating lever, as shown in full lines in FIG. 4.

The base or supporting frame 10 is provided with casters at the opposite front and rear ends. The rear casters 52 may be rigid while the front casters 54 should swivel so that the supporting frame may be pushed in any desired direction on the ground or the like. A rigid U-shaped bar 56 is connected to the side members 12 of the supporting frame and the front of said bar extends across the front of the unit to be manually engaged by a person to push the device to the desired location.

The trash container is generally indicated at 60. It is preferably of rectangular shape in plan and is supported on wheels 62, some of which are swivelable. The sides of the dump container are provided with handles 64. Extending outwardly of the sides of the dump container are trunnions 66 which are adapted to be engaged by the cradle members 32 of the lifting posts 28.

The operation of my invention will be understood from the foregoing, but briefly described, the trash container 60, which is movable on its own wheels 62, is placed or moved to any desired position where it is filled with trash or the like. When it is desired to empty the trash container the device forming this invention is wheeled or pushed to a position in relation to the trash container so that the trash container can be pushed into the framework of the device through the open rear end 15 of the framework, so that the sides of the trash container with the trunnions 66 thereof are in alinement with the cradles 32 of this device.

In the elevated position of the operating lever 34, as.

shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the trunnions 66 will not be engaged by the cradles and the trash container will rest on its own wheels 62. However, by depressing the operating lever 34 (FIG. 2), it pivots to elevate the lifting posts 28, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and when elevated the cradles 32 of the lifting posts 28 engage the trunnions 66 on the trash container to elevate the trash container from the ground or floor on which it rests. When thus elevated the wheels 62 of the trash container will be raised off the floor or ground and the trash container can be manually tilted on its trunnions 66 to a side position or a partially inverted position, such as shown in FIG. 3, for the purpose of emptying the trash from the container or for cleaning and washing the container.

When in its tilted or inverted position (FIG. 3), with the foot of the operator off the operating lever 34, the weight of the trash container will cause the lifting posts 28 to move to their lowered or retracted position and the operating lever to assume the position shown in FIG. 3. After the container has been emptied or cleaned, the operating lever 34 is manually depressed, as in FIG. 2, to raise the lifting posts 28 to elevate the trash container so that it may be manually pushed back to its upright position, as in FIG. 1. The springs 44 will normally pivot the operating lever 34 to its elevated position (FIG. 1) to maintain the lifting posts 28 in their lowered position, and only when the operating lever is depressed at the front are the lifting posts elevated.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described for supporting a container for tilting movement, a supporting member, lifting members carried by said supporting member, said lifting members being vertically slidable, a manually operable lever operated by foot pressure for operating said lifting members, a container having trunnions supported on said lifting members, said lifting members when elevated adapted to support the container elevated from a floor support to permit said container to be tilted wih respect to said supporting member.

2. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the means for operating the lifting members comprises a generally U-shaped operating lever in which the sides of said lever are in engagement with the lifting members and in which the operating lever is pivotally supported on the supporting member.

3. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the supporting member comprises a frame-like structure which has an opening and in which the container has wheels whereby it can be wheeled into the supporting member through the opening.

4. A structure defined in claim 3 in which the manually operated lever is spring biased to normally maintain the lifting members in their retracted position.

5. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the lifting members are slotted and in which the means for operating the lifting members comprises a lever which is pivotally mounted on the supporting member and in which the end of the lever engages the slotted lifting members.

6. A structure defined in claim 5 in which the lever is of a generally U-shaped configuration and is adapted to be operated by foot pressure.

7. A stand for supporting a container for tilting movement comprising, a supporting member, a container having trunnions on its opposite sides, said supporting member having a pair of spaced lift members engageable by said trunnions, a U-shaped operating member pivotally supported on said supporting member and engageable with said lift members so that the pivotal movement of the U-shaped operating member raises and lowers the lift members to impart a corresponding movement to said container, said U-shaped operating member operated by foot pressure for raising the lift members, said container when lifted capable of being tilted as it clears the floor surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,728,519 9/1929 Tuerck 214-390 2,713,431 7/1955 Koehler 2l4--3l5 2,926,804 3/1960 Furhmann et al 214390 FOREIGN PATENTS 203,878 6/ 1959 Austria. 763,651 12/1956 Great Britain.

SCI-IULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR SUPPORTING A CONTAINER FOR TILTING MOVEMENT, A SUPPORTING MEMBER, LIFTING MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, SAID LIFTING MEMBER BEING VERTICALLY SLIDABLE, A MANUALLY OPERABLE LEVER OPERATED BY FOOT PRESSURE FOR OPERATING SAID LIFTING MEMBERS, A CONTAINER HAVING TRUNNIONS SUPPORTED ON SAID LIFTING MEMBERS, SAID LIFTING MEMBERS WHEN ELEVATED ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE CONTAINER ELEVATED FROM A FLOOR SUPPORT TO PERMIT SAID CONTAINER TO BE TILTED WITH RESPECT O SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER. 